Economics

Richmond council OKs Chevron refinery plan
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, July 18, 2008

RICHMOND -- A sharply divided Richmond City Council approved on Thursday Chevron's controversial plan for a major upgrade of its century-old refinery and accepted $61 million from the oil company for community programs.

The council voted 5-4 to approve a conditional use permit for Chevron to replace a hydrogen plant, install new hydrogen-purifying equipment, build a new cogeneration power plant and replace other antiquated machinery.

Brazen protesters tag Syncrude pond
Alexandra Zabjek, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 2:31 am, July 25, 2008

EDMONTON - A new chapter in activism against Alberta's oilsands was
opened Thursday when a group of protesters entered Syncrude's Aurora
mine site north of Fort McMurray and unfurled banners on the edge of a
controversial tailings pond.

"To actually go onto the (oilsands) sites themselves, that's a new thing
and I think we can expect to see more of that in the future as greater
awareness is brought to what's going on up north," said Paul Joosse, a

Despite the tone of the article below, there is much opposition in the community to this development, opposition whose voices need to be heard.

--M

Reservation officials discuss oil exploration
Business News - Native Business News
New Town, North Dakota (AP) 5-08

The chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes sees new opportunities in oil exploration but says it may come at a price.

A few quick notes on this:

TransCanada-- otherwise known as TCPL-- is a major sponsor of the 2010 Olympics destroying Vancouver and the lands of "BC". TransCanada is also a massive construction conduit for the expansion of the tar sands/tar pits up to 5 MILLION barrels a day (more than any other single country in the world minus Saudi Arabia for daily delivery). These plans are enunciated and spelled out in the SPP's round of talks from Houston, 2006.

TCPL is promoting the expansion of *both* northern pipelines for gas, and finally gave up the competition charade:

Federal climate change report warns of health problems
STEVE RENNIE
The Canadian Press
July 24, 2008 at 4:59 PM EDT

OTTAWA — A major report on climate change and health forecasts a higher risk of injuries, illnesses and stress-related disorders brought on by more frequent bouts of extreme weather.

A not-yet-released Health Canada report urges the federal government to brace Canadians for health problems arising from more droughts, violent storms, heat waves and cold snaps.

ATTENTION: ALL NEWS EDITORS

==> Pictures attached of 2nd Protest Against PNWER Summit

==> No Smooth Sailing for PNWER Elites: Marina Entrance Blocked by Activists

==> Activists cite lack of transparent process and public consultation in
PNWER decision making given wide scope of policy impacts from 2010 Olympics
to oil and gas mining

Wednesday July 23, 2008 Vancouver- A group of activists blocked access to
the Westin Bayshore marina today to protest the Pacific NorthWest Economic
Region (PNWER) summit. In doing so, they prevented delegates from boarding a

PNWER study on Energy "recommendations" for the Region

Nukes for the tar sands, massive new hydro projects in BC & AB, natural gas pipelines, new coal plants & more! And if we don't do this? Well, according to PNWER: blackouts, job losses and extreme price increases will occur! Be afraid, consume, and forget about everything else. This is to "help" stop climate change we are told. Coal, tar sands, these are now "solutions". Don't think about it, or else you will get a headache...

--M

*****

Russia and Venezuela Will Coordinate on Energy
By ANNE BARNARD // NYTimes
Published: July 23, 2008

MOSCOW — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia declared Tuesday that their countries would more closely coordinate their actions on global oil and gas markets and that they would work together on foreign policy, a sphere in which both countries have sought to counter American influence.

July 23, 2008
Will Offshore Drilling Help?
by Tam Hunt, Community Environmental Council

With oil prices topping new records every week, the chorus for increasing offshore drilling is growing. Will it help?

Canadian energy policy "Made in USA"
The window may be closing on what's left of Canadian decision-making power over our own energy.
Dateline: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
by Linda McQuaig

When Americans want something that lies in another country, the consequences for that other country can be severe.

Even if they don't actually invade, they put a lot of pressure on lesser countries to behave as they want.

The future of the oil sands is one of the most important and contentious issues facing Canada.